Canastota alum Zack Zupan ready for next challenge in wrestling career

Zack Zupan wrapped up his high school athletic career at Canastota with his second straight state wrestling title five months ago, but the honors are still rolling in for the Raiders' two-sport star.

Zupan was recently named to the USA Wrestling High School All-American team, the fifth All-America honor of his illustrious career.

But now he's practically starting over, beginning his collegiate career at Binghamton University.

"You could almost call it two completely different sports," said Zupan of the differences between high school and college wrestling.

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He has been at Binghamton for a few weeks, taking summer classes and working out with his new teammates. He estimated a couple dozen wrestlers are currently at the school for summer workouts, six of whom are incoming freshman.

"I'm getting a heck of a lot better every day," Zupan said. "You're not top dog any more; it makes you improve exponentially."

Zupan was certainly top dog for much of his high school career, not only at Canastota but throughout the state. On the football field Zupan amassed 3,986 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns to go with 496 career tackles, a number his father Nick believes is a state record. Zupan was a three-time All-State selection at linebacker and a three-time Center State Conference Player of the Year.

Zupan was also dominant in his six years on the varsity wrestling mat, compiling a 210-23 record over his career in which he was a four-time state place finisher, five-time Section III finalist, two-time state champion and five-time high school All-American.

"It was really cool," Zupan said of his latest USA Wrestling honor. "It kinda lets you know that what you did in high school was noticed. Your face gets put out there for everyone to see and it's a great feeling."

"In 22 years of coaching, he's the best I've ever coached," said Nick. "Him and Terry Showalter. It's hard to separate the two."

Zupan's father and high school co-coach also gave credit to those who helped his son along the way, notably Showalter, John Tyler, John Albanese and Sam Sirota.

"Zack wouldn't have gotten as good as he had without partners like that," said Nick.

But now Zupan's moved on to new partners and new routines as a college freshman. He said that lifting is different now that the 174-pounder is working out with 197-pound recruits. The team has also been learning things like how to score when an opponent initiates a move, countering the move and going into their own move.

Nick joked that the increased workload has led his son to a new best friend.